Interview with Drummer/Educator Keith Hall!
What town do you live in?
Portage, MI
What is your main instrument?
Drum set
What other instruments do you play?
I play enough piano to write, that’s about it.
How long have you been contributing to the local music scene?
After doing my undergrad at Western Michigan University in ’94, I got married to my wife Tamera (15 years this month!) And was around here for 2 years before moving to NYC. We’ve been back for almost 6 years.
Where are some of your favorite places to play in West Michigan?
The Union and Martini’s in Kalamazoo
The Livery Benton Harbor
What groups do you play with locally?
Mind’s Eye, my various trios, Tri-Fi comes to town a couple times a year, Jesse Palter, Tom Knific, Jenna Mammina.
Who are your main musical influences?
Everyone! Ok…Shirley Horn has been huge for me-her singing and piano playing. She and her bands always swing so hard…that was actually my dream gig, I never got to play with her though. My mentor, Billy Hart is, of course a major influence. I am rooted in bop/hard bop, Miles and Coltrane, and the great trios like Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, Bobby Timmons, Phineas Newborn, but love modern stuff too. Gospel music influences me a lot too.
What styles of music do you prefer to play?
Jazz and Gospel
What other styles would you like to play more of?
Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Folk and Pop
Who have you been listening to?
Israel Houghton’s new one, Ty Tribbett, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Patty Griffin, Brian Blade’s new singer/songwriter record, Al Green, Donny Mccaslin, Sarah Vaughan, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache band. I listen to a fair amount of my kids’ music. Although they dig a lot of what I like, they also love high school musical and all the current kids stuff…and actually, because I love good pop tunes, there are some really good songs on those cds…(no one is going to read this interview, right?)
Who have you studied with and how was that experience?
Billy Hart-changed my life and musical direction, he is my mentor and musical father, I owe him so much.
Ed Thigpen-showed me how to really play brushes, and his spirit is so beautiful, a true gentleman and master of our instrument.
Carl Allen-a great teacher and friend, challenged me in so many ways.
Lewis Nash-gave me the best lesson I ever had. He is very thorough. I remember wanting to learn how to play fast like him…he said, “let’s talk about playing slowly first!” oops!
Vince Cherico-helped me deal with Afro-Cuban and Brazilian drumming-he’s a master in his own right and a very generous and beautiful cat.
What degrees have you received and from what institution were they acquired?
Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies-WMU
Masters of Arts in Jazz Studies-Queens College, NY
How do you continue to challenge and educate yourself musically?
I listen to a lot of different kinds of music, my students inspire me beyond words- I love them dearly and appreciated the exchange that we have. I try to get to NYC as often as possible to work and hang and check out as many live shows as I can when I am there. I try to stay open to new things and new ways of thinking. Taking time away from the drums keeps things fresh too.
You travel quite regularly to play with Curtis Stigers group. Could you explain how that experience has been both musically and personally?
Playing with Curtis has been a real blessing. It’s been 8 years now and we just recorded a new record last month. It’s the 3rd album I’ve appeared on and the 2nd full album I’ve done with him. I’ve been able to be a part of a working band that works 70-100 dates each year which is pretty unique in jazz. When you hear us, you hear the band, not a bunch of subs-there is a serious chemistry on and off stage, it’s been really fun. I’ve been able to see the world and make lots of good friends all over Europe. It has given me amazing experiences musically and otherwise. We have a great time when we are on the road. I really get to ‘play’ with Curtis, it’s not a stereotypical ‘singer gig’!
Why did you decide to move back to West Michigan after your stint in New York?
My wife and I are from here and all of our family is in Battle Creek, I was traveling a lot and we were pregnant with our 2nd daughter. It was getting hard to do all of that in NYC without our family’s help. Plus, WMU is here, and our church, Christian Life Center is here. We really felt God calling us back to Michigan and after much prayer, God really opened up every door and made everything fall into place so that we could move home in between a very hectic tour schedule. It is an amazing story how it all went down actually! I really want to make an impact here in Michigan and in our area. I love living here!
Not only are you a great drummer, but also a fantastic educator, how would you define your teaching method and philosophy?
Every student is different, so I try not to make it a cookie-cutter experience with me. Although there are many things I want every student to learn, ultimately, I try to figure out what each student’s strengths and interests are and help them cultivate these. I try to get across to my students that the music can and should move us as players and listeners, I have a sign in my office that says “make me dance’. If I’m not dancing, it’s not grooving! It’s not all about technique and chops, the only people that care about that are other drummers and they are not the ones hiring you for gigs. I think we should play the music, for the music and reach the people.
I’m actually finishing up my first drum book right now. It’s going to be a jazz drum set book (surprise!) That will be geared towards beginning jazz drummers in middle/high school but also for intermediate players. This will have lots of play along tracks included on the CD in many different tempos.
What advice might you offer to a younger musician who might want to play music for a living?
Follow your dreams. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s the best advice I could give anyone. Find your purpose: what you were created to do, what you are passionate about, what energizes you and is easy for you…then you can operate from a place of ease and live with passion. There is nothing worse than spending hours, weeks and years doing something that you don’t enjoy. Life is to be enjoyed and if music brings you enjoyment and you are good at it, then go for it. Now, you have to be brutally honest with yourself and seek advice from people that really know you and love you. But, making a living at this is totally possible, and there are many different ways to do it.
What advice might you give to someone who is discerning a Jazz Studies Degree? What should they look for in a teacher and program?
The first thing to decide is: what do you want? Why are you going to school? If you have an idea of what you want to get out of it, you will get more out of it, I think. But, most 18 year olds don’t know what they want so…I would look for a teacher that not only teaches but also plays. Some people can’t do both; I know a lot of great players who can’t teach to save their lives, but there are some great people that do both. I would look for a program where you can have many opportunities to play and ideally, many different types of opportunities. Find out about the people who have graduated from that school, what are they doing now?
I know you are a family man. Is it tough for you to balance family, performing, and your teaching career?
It is difficult, but my wife Tamera, is very understanding and supportive. I could not do what I do without her…and I’m not just saying that, it is true! She is amazing! And my little girls are the best, I know it’s hard on all of us when I have to go on the road or am gone many evenings during the week, but we try to accentuate the positive aspects….I get to do things with them that a lot of other Daddies don’t get to do. For us, this is our ‘normal’ and we just make the best of it.
Name five of your most memorable achievements/musical experiences:
1) Becoming a father. 1st, 2nd and 3rd time!! That’s musical right?
2) I was a substitute for Tommy Igoe on broadways’ lion king for 3 years. I never dreamed of doing this.
3) a couple experiences with Curtis Stigers: playing to a sold-out crowd for 2 nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall when we opened for George Benson! Playing the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland 1st with Tri-Fi and then with Curtis opening for Diana Krall and having Jeff Hamilton tell me how much I was nailing the gig! How humbling is that!
4) Starting my annual summer drum intensive. It’s grown to 20 students (my capacity) in 3 years. It’s gained a lot of momentum in this short time.
5) Touring and recording with Grupo Yanqui, a Latin-jazz group that toured for the state department a few years ago.
Do you have a CD?
I have 5 of them. The Groov’tet, 2 with Paster, Ryan & Hall, 2 with Tri-Fi
Tell us about your recording experience and discography?
I just recorded an album with a Danish singer and Tri-Fi as his rhythm section and just completed Curtis Stigers’ new one for concord-really excited to hear this one!
Here is a selected discography:
-the Groov’tet
-Paster, Ryan & Hall-Invisible Horizon and Skyline
-Tri-Fi-Tri-Fi and Postcards
-Steve Talaga-Contemplating The Heavens, Yin-Yang
-Mind’s Eye-Angst For The Spoiler
-Grupo Yanqui-Rides Again
-Tom Knific-Lines Of Influence
-Curtis Stigers-I think It’s Gonna Rain Today, Real Emotional, Unreleased Title
-Jesper Dupont
Where can we purchase your music?
You can get most of this stuff on itunes, www.keithhallmusic.com, www.tri-fi.com, and cd baby
Where do you see yourself in 10 years musically?
10 years is not that far off…I see myself as more established as an educator and as a player. I would like to do a record under my own name sometime soon, everything I’ve done has been a cooperative project. Also, am looking at doing a gospel project and doing more music ministry. I have a couple educational programs I am working on in Kalamazoo; an after school program and another jazz education program. I hope to author more books and write more articles. I hope to be swingin’ harder in 10 years too!!
Links? Videos? Audio? Shameless plugs?
My 3rd annual Keith Hall summer drum intensive takes place June 14-19 at WMU. The final concerts are at the union cabaret and grille in Kalamazoo on Thursday and Friday June 18/19. It will feature 20 students ages 12-57 performing with two different trios (featuring Matthew Fries, Phil Palombi, Hugh Little, and Jon Wegge) and vocalist Jenna Mammina. There will also be performances by 4 different drum choirs consisting of 5 people each on Friday. And Tri-Fi will be performing a free concert at Bronson Park on Sunday, June 21 at 4pm
People can visit www.keithhallmusic.com or www.tri-fi.com for videos, mp3s and more info.
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